The glory of the green and gold book upon her, Emmy Lou went to Hattie. But she declined the loan of it, saying she didn't believe in fairy tales. She had not believed in Alice, Rosalie, and Amanthus at first, either, though she had accepted them now.
Emmy Lou took this new worry home. "Hattie doesn't believe in fairy tales."
"She will," from Uncle Charlie confidently.
"When?"
"When she gets younger, with time, like us, or when she overtakes a light disposition looking for an owner. But I wouldn't be hard on her. Keep up heart and coax her along."
Hard on Hattie? Her best friend? Coax her along? When were she and Hattie apart?
At Thanksgiving, Mrs. Maynard, the mother of Amanthus and Rosalie, a close rival herself to Aunt Katie in prettiness, gave a party for her two little daughters, a party calling for white dresses and sashes and slippers.
"Hattie doesn't want to go, but I've coaxed her," Emmy Lou reported at home.
"Doesn't want to go?" from Aunt Cordelia. "Why not?"
"She says she hasn't got a disposition for white dresses and slippers, she'd rather go to parties with candy-pulling and games."